---
title: "Microwave Vanilla Sponge Cake"
description: "A vanilla sponge for one, cooked in the microwave in about two minutes. Weigh an egg, then use the same weight of butter, sugar and flour. Nice with jam and a scoop of ice cream."
category: "Desserts"
cuisine: "British"
serves: "1 bowl"
prep: "5 mins"
cook: "2 mins"
author: "Thomas Chaplin"
site: "Chaplin Kitchen"
url: "https://chaplinkitchen.com/r/microwave-vanilla-sponge-cake/"
datePublished: "2026-10-02T21:55:11+01:00"
dateModified: "2026-10-05T17:20:54+01:00"
---

# Microwave Vanilla Sponge Cake

A vanilla sponge for one, cooked in the microwave in about two minutes. Weigh an egg, then use the same weight of butter, sugar and flour. Nice with jam and a scoop of ice cream.

**Category:** Desserts · **Cuisine:** British · **Serves:** 1 bowl · **Prep:** 5 mins · **Cook:** 2 mins

**Recipe URL:** https://chaplinkitchen.com/r/microwave-vanilla-sponge-cake/

## Ingredients

- 1 egg _(weighed in its shell)_
- Unsalted butter _(the same weight as the egg)_
- Caster sugar _(the same weight as the egg)_
- Self-raising flour _(the same weight as the egg)_
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 spoonful jam _(optional, to serve)_
- 1 scoop ice cream _(optional, to serve)_

## Method

1. **Weigh the egg.** Weigh the egg in its shell and note the weight — that is how much butter, sugar and flour you need.
2. **Mix it all in a bowl.** Put the butter, sugar, self-raising flour, vanilla extract and the cracked egg into a large microwave-safe bowl and mix until smooth, with no streaks of butter or dry flour left.
3. **Microwave the sponge.** Microwave for 2 minutes, until risen and the top springs back.
4. **Top and serve.** Top with a spoon of jam and serve with a scoop of ice cream, if you like, straight out of the bowl.

## Notes

- The egg sets every other quantity, so the recipe scales by the egg: for a bigger cake, use more eggs and match their combined weight in butter, sugar and flour. The vanilla does not need to go up in step — two eggs do not need two teaspoons, so use your judgement.
- Use the bowl you will eat from: it saves washing up, and the sponge goes straight from the microwave to the table.
- Soft butter mixes in far more easily than butter straight from the fridge.